[JerryM]

If you were going to show someone how nice your system sounds, but could play only one song, what song would you play? Why that song?

Have fun,
Jerry

[acwd1950]

George Jones-He stopped loving her today, on vinyl. Why, the emotion that he puts in that song you actually can feel it on the record and not the CD. It will make you cry.

Steve

[Wayner]

Simple Minds, Don't you (forget about me) on 12" 45rpm vinyl. After hearing this, you'd wish all vinyl was cut at 45rpm.

Wayner  aa

[Bob in St. Louis]

For me, that song changes every few weeks.
Currently, it would be Holly Cole "Jersey Girl".  aa

That is, unless that someone wanted to hear multichannel and subwoofers. 
Then it would be a track from a Blue Man Group DVD called simply, "Audio"

As far as your questions "Why that song", Hmm...Same reason regardless of my current choice of the week:
Crystal clarity. Good clean bass punch. Black background. Quality recording.

So Jerry, since you asked us......What's yours?

Bob

[JerryM]

So Jerry, since you asked us......What's yours?

Bob

My one song I will always play is Keith Don't Go by Nils Lofgren on the Acoustic Live album. This is such a great song. Just one guy on stage, puttin' it on for the crowd. Everyone I have ever played this song for ends up just smiling and nodding their head knowingly.
I think it's a great tune to show what a nice system can play music like.

Have fun,
Jerry

[low.pfile]

Picking just one song is tough. If forced I would choose "Ice", by Sarah McLachlan, from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

It is not a very complex song, primarily vocals, but demoing my system is almost always for non-audio people so I want to ease them into it. I think that "Ice" is very approachable for many listeners.  This song seems to convert my living room into a dark pub that has sarah sitting on a stool front and center.

If they show any interest in the system, after "Ice" I would play something much more dynamic. This song also leads off my CD/playlist that I use to audition gear, test settings, etc.

ed

[Mag]

That depends. For most people I would play something they are familiar with. So I would probably play Money for Nothing by Dire Straits on SACD MC. I want them to hear how the opening drum sequence seems to move around the room. It's so cool! And so they will know how pathetic the radio sounds in comparison.

If they are and old time buddy. Then I'll want them to hear how In-a-gadda-da-vida  really sounds,restored with and played on the BCD-1. They will be amazed and think they are hearing the actual concert. Though I think it was recorded in the studio.

[Tyson]

Reid Paley - "A Bang and a Whimper".  Jesus H, Chr!st, what a voice.  If that doesn't sell people on my system (and taste in music), I don't know what will.

[chadh]

This is a hard one.  Something deep in my heart tells me it should be something of Cassandra Wilson's - maybe "Children of the Night" or "I Can't Stand the Rain" from Blue Light 'til Dawn.  But recently, I've just been totally transfixed with how both guitars sound when Eric Clapton and BB King play "Three O'Clock Blues" on Riding with the King, and so I might be tempted to play that one.

Chad

[SwedeSound]

Hmm. Tough one. I guess it would certainly depend on the person. Given that so many people have such diverse musical tastes, you'd want to pick something that had the least potential downside.

If I had to pick one (and play by the rules here), I would say No. 41 by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College.

Why? Because that song plays to my system's biggest strengths: acoustic music, strings, fast, dynamic mid-range, vocals, realistic soundstage and imaging. I have stuff that goes lower - much lower - and while my system can dip its toes in those frequencies, it's certainly not its forte'.

-Jason

[Bob in St. Louis]

Eric Clapton and BB King play "Three O'Clock Blues" on Riding with the King

That was one of mine several months ago. Good choice!

Bob

[JerryM]

But recently, I've just been totally transfixed with how both guitars sound when Eric Clapton and BB King play "Three O'Clock Blues" on Riding with the King, and so I might be tempted to play that one.

Chad

Great song!! 

[thunderbrick]

Either Dom DeLuise (ooops, Pavoratti) singing Nessun Dorma or Dusty Springfield's "Look of Love" from Casino Royale for starters.
And maybe some of the cuts from Dick Shorey's "Bang, Barroom and Harp".  50 years plus and till amazing.
Weird  I am.

[lonewolfny42]

If you were going to show someone how nice your system sounds, but could play only one song, what song would you play? Why that song?

"Feeling of Jazz".....Wynton Marsalis, from the album "The Magic Hour"...vocals by Dianne Reeves. Its a great track....ballad type song...well recorded...small combo sound.

Now if I were coming to hear your system....I'd like "La Grange" by ZZ Top.  

[JerryM]

If you were going to show someone how nice your system sounds, but could play only one song, what song would you play? Why that song?

"Feeling of Jazz".....Wynton Marsalis, from the album "The Magic Hour"...vocals by Dianne Reeves. Its a great track....ballad type song...well recorded...small combo sound.

Now if I were coming to hear your system....I'd like "La Grange" by ZZ Top.  

I just listened to that song. Geeze, what a great tune. I swear, I can see the cigarette smoke, the red curtains, her sparkly dress, the big old mic. Nice...   

If you were here to hear my system and said "Play some ZZ.", I would have played El Diablo... 

Thanks for the tip on a great song,
Jerry

[Lyndon]

It may be too 'analytical' for some, but Wendy (Walter) Carlos' composition for 'A Clockwork Orange' called Timesteps is an amazing recording with real and synth instrumentation.  It always gives a good system a workout.

[rpf]

It would depend on the person, obviously: Eva Cassidy's "Field of Gold" (I know, I know, but you'd be surprised how many people haven't heard it); "Willin" from Little Feat's Live At The Ram's Head; and "Talk To Me Of Mendocino" from The McGarrigle Hour are what I've been showing off lately. All great songs, with great sound. The first and second capture live events really well, and the third has great harmonies (Kate M. and her children Rufus and Martha Wainwright).

[martyo]

For quite awhile it has been All or Nothing at All from Diana Krall live at the Montreal Jazz Festival DVD in 2 channel.
Lately, depending on the person, Autumn Leaves from the Keith Jarrett Trio at the Blue Note: June 4th 1994. (It's 25 min. long, has to be the right person.) 

Excellent music and the Krall is an above average recording and the Jarrett is an excellent recording.

[JoshK]

So Jerry, since you asked us......What's yours?

Bob

My one song I will always play is Keith Don't Go by Nils Lofgren on the Acoustic Live album. This is such a great song. Just one guy on stage, puttin' it on for the crowd. Everyone I have ever played this song for ends up just smiling and nodding their head knowingly.
I think it's a great tune to show what a nice system can play music like.

Have fun,
Jerry

Great tune.  We use it often in the NYAR gtg's. 

By the way, I'd probably pick Morphine - Buena off Cure for Pain.  Mostly because its a cool song, by a cool group.  Its very well recorded, rockin, not cheesy and it has quite a bit of punch and lower midrange content.  The track images really well and there is a distinction in placement of the three musicians in the recording.

Its a tough call though, because my musical taste is so all over the map that I can't think of one song that really displays the entirety of what I am looking for.  I usually like to through on some Tool and crank it up to see if the system is well composed without all the layers getting garbled together or hard on the ears (too much distortion).  There are very distinct layers in the recordings, which are very well done considering the genre. 

[Bob in St. Louis]

"Feeling of Jazz".....Wynton Marsalis, from the album "The Magic Hour"...vocals by Dianne Reeves.

Oh yea. Very good tune. ! 

Also:
Branford Marsalis – Berta, Berta   aa
In a weird sort of way, It's a cool tune. Very dynamic.
Everytime I play it I hear something new, something "little" in the background. {Crickets, dogs, people hacking and spitting......}

Bob